A great horned owl trapped in a barbed wire fence was given a second chance after a group of strangers came together to save it in rural South Dakota.
The rescue began when Sharon and Scott Jacobs were driving near Spearfish and spotted what Scott initially thought was a hawk caught near a fence.
Sharon, an animal lover, asked him to turn around so she could take a closer look.
When she approached the bundle of feathers, she quickly realized the bird was not dead — and it was not a hawk.
It was a living great horned owl tangled in the barbed wire.
Sharon stayed nearby and spoke calmly to the distressed bird while Scott looked for something they could use to safely approach it.
They needed a bag to cover the owl’s head, which can help reduce stress during wildlife rescues, as well as a pair of protective gloves.
Scott had a bag, but no gloves.
Then another driver stopped to see what was happening.
The man, named Brandon, happened to have gloves and immediately offered to help.
Together, the group carefully covered the owl’s head and began trying to free it from the twisted wire while protecting themselves from its powerful talons.
Soon after, the landowner’s daughter arrived.
Sharon explained that cutting the fence appeared to be the safest way to release the bird. The daughter contacted her father, who agreed that they should cut the wire immediately.
There was only one problem: they needed wire cutters.
Once again, Brandon had exactly what they needed.
The small rescue team carefully cut the fence and freed the owl.
But their work was not over.
Sharon rushed the injured bird to her veterinarian, who agreed to meet them at his office and examine it.
The veterinarian removed two pieces of barbed wire lodged in the owl and delivered encouraging news: the bird should eventually be able to fly again.
Sharon then contacted wildlife rehabilitation centers in the area to find the best place for the owl to continue recovering.
The Black Hills Raptor Center was chosen to take over its care.
“Everybody’s goal was to get this beautiful creature taken care of,” Sharon